Grants help events get quacking

FIVE community events in the south of the Shire will be able to run in a COVID safe manner, if and when they return, following the announcement of a State Government grant.

Thirty-five-thousand dollars from the Regional Recovery Fund, via the Shire, will go towards the Inverleigh Dachshund Derby, Turtle Bend Live and the Teesdale Twilight Carols and Market, Victorian Carriage Driving Championships at the Leighdale Equestrian Centre, and the Shelford Duck Race.

The money will be used to purchase 10 marquees, along with COVID resources. Seven of the marquees will be retained by event organisers, while the rest will be available for ad hoc use by other groups.

Secretary and treasurer of Shelford Duck Racing, Glenn Jeffery, said the support would solve a big problem.

“We’re going to use this for shade and shelter,” he said.

“We hold our event in the middle of summer in the middle of a cricket ground, there’s no shade. So marquees are really handy for us.”

While the ever-popular Duck Race was able to float down the Leigh in 2020, just days before COVID-19 restrictions kicked in, it didn’t waddle this year.

Mr Jeffery said that meant that some key groups in the community lost an important stream of funding.

“Our three main partners are the cricket club, the school and the progress association,” he said. “We split net profit and that’s the best way to filter it back into the community.

“Yet more than the community missing out on fundraising income, it was the lost opportunity to come together and have that one big event brings that everyone together.

“We’re looking forward to having it in 2020.”

Events like the Duck Race, Dachshund Derby and Turtle Bend activities, along with the new Carriage Driving Championships are huge draws for the south of the Shire, bringing in people from across the municipality and further afield including from Geelong, Ballarat and Melbourne.

Mayor Cr Helena Kirby said providing municipal support was recognition of their importance.

“Council is always looking for funding opportunities and ways to support our Shire’s much-loved community events,” she said.

“We are pleased to have secured this Victorian Government grant to purchase important infrastructure that will get these events back up and running for our local communities.”